Where To Buy Clothes for the Apple Shape: 9 Chic and Stylish Brands

Shopping for clothes with a hard-to-dress body is frustrating, so here’s where to buy clothes for the apple shape. These are my go-to brands!

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I was in a Nordstrom fitting room trying on denim shorts when I asked the saleswoman how they fit in the back.

“They’re great,” she responded. “You don’t have a waist gap!”

I stared at her for a second wondering if she had even looked at my body.

I never have a waist gap. I usually have the opposite problem: a muffin top.

That’s because most clothes aren’t made for apple shapes like me. I’m even a straighter apple, and I still have a terrible time finding clothes that fit.

I hope that fashion brands will one day make fits for us like they do for our curvy friends. Until then, here’s a list of brands I shop that (mostly) work for my apple body shape.

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Things To Know

Make sure you know what styles flatter the apple body shape. Check out my other posts for some dressing tips.

Find a good tailor. Alterations might take an okay fit to a great fit.

Be picky, but also realistic. Flattering clothes will create the illusion of some curves, but they won’t magically give you an hourglass shape.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: What Is an Apple Body Shape?

Where To Buy Clothes for the Apple Shape

I am always trying on clothes because I am determined to find options that don’t include elastic waists, super stretchy jeans, or men’s pants. (I don’t give up, bless my heart.)

So this list is ongoing and evolving. I hope I can continue adding brands to it because apples deserve to look and feel great, too.

One final note: Sometimes these stores are hit and miss for me. The styles and fits can vary from season to season, so don’t give up if you have a bad shopping experience.

(For reference, I’m 5’4″, dress size 12, and denim size 29/30. I have longish legs for my height, which means I have a short torso. I have a broad back and a wide chest and ribcage, but smaller breasts. And last but not least, I have the hallmark apple features: a thicker waist, flat butt, and skinny legs.)

1. Madewell

Best for jeans and denim shorts

Madewell’s jeans and denim shorts have fit me pretty well in recent years. I have also tried on some dresses that I liked.

But I haven’t had good luck with their pants and non-denim shorts. I have a short torso and the rises are typically too high one me.

Madewell carries petite, plus, and tall sizes online.

2. J.Crew

Best for jeans, pants, and shorts

More often than not, I can go into J.Crew and find pants and jeans that fit me. Their pull-on pants and shorts, however, do not work on my body.

J.Crew carries petite, plus, and tall sizes online.

3. Gap

Best for jeans and denim shorts

I have pretty good luck with Gap’s jeans and denim shorts, including this pair I bought at the beginning of summer.

If you shop online, Gap carries carries petite and tall sizes, as well as regular sizes in short, regular, and long inseams. They carry regular sizes to size 20 (35 waist).

4. Anthropologie

Best for dresses

I love a good A-line dress for my apple shape, and this Anthropologie best seller is beautiful. They also carry dresses in petite and plus sizes online; they even have petite sections at my local Anthropologie stores!

5. Banana Republic

Best for many things, especially office attire

Banana Republic’s makeover is one you need to see. There was a long stretch of time where their clothes were just meh, but now they offer classic, modern pieces with cool, vintage vibes. Plus their clothes fit my straighter apple body shape!

Banana Republic carries petite, tall, and plus sizes online in some styles.

6. Athleta

Best for athleisure

I buy my workout leggings and tops from Athleta, as well as other casual athleisure pants. They even carry plus sizes in store in some styles.

(For another athleisure brand, check out Vuori’s performance joggers. These comfy pants fit my thicker waist without being too baggy in the butt.)

7. LOFT

Best for dresses and shorts

LOFT’s dresses usually fit me pretty well, although I find some of their styles are a little old for me. I like the way many of their shorts fit, especially their Riviera shorts.

@howellkaren

I was panic shopping the day before! #dressshopping #applebodytype #dressesforwomen #size12 #size10tryon

♬ Just a Cloud Away – Pharrell Williams

8. Old Navy

Best for budget-friendly denim

Based on comments on my TikTok videos, Old Navy is the go-to store for many apple-shaped women looking for jeans and denim shorts.

9. Ann Taylor

Best for office attire and dresses

While I don’t shop Ann Taylor much because their clothes are dressier than I need for my current lifestyle, I would if I worked in an office. I’ve tried on dresses here that fit well.

Ann Taylor carries regular sizes to size 18, and petites to size 16 (select styles online).

Honorable Mention: Boden

Best for dresses

I’m not very familiar with how Boden’s clothes fit; however I’ve seen other apple shapes mention shopping here.

Boden offers a lot of A-line and tie-waist dresses, which are very flattering dress styles for apple shapes. They also offer regular sizes to 20/22, and petite sizes.

Final Thoughts on Where To Buy Clothes for the Apple Shape

If you look at the camera roll on my phone, there are a lot of selfies of the back of me in fitting room mirrors.

It’s the only way I can see how clothes fit me from the back.

And the best way to see if there’s a muffin top.

RELATED ARTICLES:

• The Best Dresses for Apple Body Shape Women to Wear
• The Absolute Best Jeans for Apple Body Shape Figures

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